Samurai Performance and Casual Experience: Kyoto Ticket

Kyoto, Japan

From $32.78

Select Date and Travelers

up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

1 hour (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

Learn the arts of the samurai as you enjoy a 1-hour Kembu show, a traditional sword performance celebrating the culture of this ancient Japanese warrior class, in Kyoto. Head to Kyoto’s Samurai Kembu Theater to admire the intricate movements of traditional and new-style Kembu performances, celebrating the legendary stories of Japan’s feudal period. You’ll also hear a fascinating talk before the performance and have time for a photo session with samurai sword and the performers post-show.

Watch demonstrations of the traditional art of Kembu and discover the practices of the samurai
Learn about the responsibility of carrying a samurai sword, traditionally given to young warriors during feudal times
Take your own photo with a performer while holding a sword and fan
Choose from two showtimes to suit your schedule

What's Included

Watch a Kenbu show in the first.
After the show, let's enjoy the mini experience with a sword and take phot.

Hotel pickup and drop-off
Food and drinks
Gratuities

Meeting and Pickup

Start time

04:15 PM

What To Expect

Journey back in time more than 700 years, to Japan’s feudal period, as you enjoy Kembu, a sword performance associated with the country’s samurai warriors. This fascinating show combines the grace, beauty and power of samurai sword practice with a chance to learn about the culture of historic Japan.

Begin your performance at Kyoto’s Samurai Kembu Theater, your arrival coinciding with your selected show time. Before starting the show, take off your shoes (in traditional Japanese style) and find your seat. Your show begins with narration from a performer, who provides an informative introduction to the history and techniques of the traditional art of Kembu.

The show then continues with a series of Kembu demonstrations. Before each demo, you’ll hear a short history lesson about samurai culture, detailing the practices of this enigmatic warrior class that dominated ancient Japan between the 12th and 19th centuries. It’s said that Kembu evolved as a discipline to help samurai boost their courage and focus their minds for the rigors of battle.

During the performance you’ll have the chance to admire both traditional and new-style Kembu rituals, each of which involves a performer who will brandish their sword in a series of intricate movements while reciting samurai poems used before heading to the battlefield. You’ll also learn the art of the Japanese folding fan and discover the meaning behind the ceremony of seppuku (ritual suicide), which is also called hara-kiri.

Finish your immersion into samurai culture with a photo session, where you can hold a sword and take a few candid shots with the performers.

Samurai Kenbu Theater

Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Near public transportation
Infants must sit on laps
Not recommended for travelers with back problems
Not recommended for pregnant travelers

No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Most travelers can participate
About 40 min. is the show part, after is mini experience part.
Please come down the stairs on the right side of the toward the GOZAN building to the reception desk.
Please arrive 15 minutes to 5 minutes prior to the start time.
If you wish to cancel a reservation, you must do so yourself on Viator.

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.

Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.

Traveler Photos

Reviews

4.5

98 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

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Showing 1-10 of 98 reviews

Worth seeing

Debra_P, Apr 2024

This was a fun show. The show used both swords and hands to teach about the samurai. After the show we got to practice both fan movements and sword movements. It is a fun night out for adults not I would also recommend it for families.

We were expecting...

Sai_P, Nov 2023

We were expecting something of a very serious battle performance, but it turned out to be a fun experience and at the same time, a good learning experience. If you're expecting like a battle of swords, please don't come. If you are interested to learn about how samurais used their weapons to convey their emotions, it will be a nice experience.

Great!

David_M, Oct 2023

It was a very theatrical way to share a story. It was a great experience! Beautiful show! I would recommend it to anyone.

A great cultural experience

Lili_W, Jul 2023

A very good cultural experience, especially for kids. The performance is for a small group of people, followed by an interactive mini class. If you are an expert in Japanese culture, this may not suit you. Otherwise, highly recommended!

Great choice

suzanne_c, May 2023

Loved the demonstration and learning about Samarui. The narration was very good The interactive session was lots of fun

Great time spent

emese_n, Apr 2023

We had a great time learning about the history of Samurai . Saw performances. Learned few moves ;) We which we would known you can dress up for the practice . Also would been fun if a few more performances were on the stage But overall we had a great time Thank you !

Samurai family fun

Julie_D, Nov 2022

This was a super fun experience. Amazing samurai performances and then the opportunity to try it all ourselves. Perfect experience and just the right amount of time. Great family photos too. Thank you!

Great Experience

Saravanan P, Nov 2019

It was raining heavily outside. Luckily, I booked this tour and enjoyed it very much. It is a trip that I recommend.

Great experience

Nomad268704, Oct 2019

We really enjoyed this performance and learning about the history of the samurai. They were very impressive and we had a great photo opportunity afterwards.

Nice show

Valentina_B, Aug 2019

The show is nice and with lots of information about samurai and other things. Unfortunately is difficult to understand their English since we are not English and their pronunciation make it hard to follow. Overall I d advise it

Nice performance for kids

Michaela_M, Apr 2019

I was expecting something more serious and going deeper into samurai fighting methods and training. There was a lot of talking and less action. Plus some "funny" dialogues. I can recommend it for families with kinds. At the end of show is a photo shoot with the actors.

Fascinating and entertaining

Rowan_G, Jan 2019

A wonderful glimps into the bushido way of the Samurai through art, dance and glimmering of swords. Thank you Samurai Kembo.

The samurai performance in Kyoto was...

Michael S, Apr 2018

The samurai performance in Kyoto was fantastic. It was at the same place as the samurai lesson. Since I had had an afternoon lesson, I asked if I could just switch my performance to the afternoon and they had no issues with that. The venue was small and intimate and the performers did a great job displaying their physicality. Before each section, an announcer would come out and explain in English what the performance you were about to experience was and its relevance to either Japan's history or to samurai culture. Overall, a great performance well worth the price of admission!

Worth seeing! The performers took...

Sumudu A, Apr 2018

Worth seeing! The performers took great care to explain the performances to the audience. It would have been helpful to have a pamphlet to help us further.

Our family had a great time at this...

Henning N, Jan 2018

Our family had a great time at this unique performance. Our kids especially liked learning more about the samurai culture in Japan. The staff had minimal English, but enough for you to understand. Fun for the whole family!

I loved the experience and for the...

gigi, Oct 2017

I loved the experience and for the first time I had a samurai sword in my hands. They took me very kindly many photos. If you travel to Kyoto, I recommend it.

Interesting, moving and at times funny...

Hunor_C, Oct 2017

Interesting, moving and at times funny. A great show.

Recommended Samurai show if you're...

Moe Adi, Aug 2017

Recommended Samurai show if you're visiting Kyoto. Specially if you want to see something different other than Kyoto temples.

The performance was great would highly...

Cesar R, Jul 2017

The performance was great would highly recommend it.

This was very entertaining and they...

Joel M, Jul 2017

This was very entertaining and they gave us a pair of Samurai socks at the end. A performance I will never forget.